EFFECTS OF ACUTE EMOTIONAL-STRESS ON THE BRAIN AND AUTONOMIC VARIABLES

Under emotional stress (ES) the brain limbic-reticular structures are shown to change first. The integrative interaction of brain structures determines the secondary changes of cardiovascular functions. The eff ects of ES on autonomic functions are mediated primarily by chemical c hanges of brain limbic-reticular neurons to neurotransmitters and olig opeptides. Genetic and individual cardiovascular disorders under ES ha ve been demonstrated. Mechanisms of sustained arterial blood hypertens ion under experimental ES are considered. It has been established that the resistance to ES is strongly dependent on the basic levels of oli gopeptides and norepinephrine in the hypothalamus. Additional injectio ns of oligopeptides enhance the resistance to ES.